Crushed leg court bid

A MAN who lost his leg after it was crushed between two cars has launched a legal battle for compensation of more than £150,000.

Colin Philips, 47, of West Reading, was standing behind his car when, he claims, motorist Duncan Howorth drove his Ford Escort into his right leg, crushing it into the back of his car.

Mr Philips suffered multiple fractures and underwent several operations in a doomed bid to save his leg, according to a writ issued at London's High Court.

The writ claims the severity of his injuries forced surgeons to amputate his right leg above the knee on January 2, 2002.

Before this his leg had become infected, and he still continues to suffer pain and phantom pain, the writ states.

Mr Philips said: "I was going to play squash when the accident happened, and all I could think about was ‘oh god, I'm not going to play squash this evening, I'm letting the team down'.

"It was really hard in respect that I was a sportsman, playing squash and playing with my daughter, and walking up the hills."

"But my game plan was to go back to work and do all the things that I used to do."

He paid tribute to his partner Aline, daughters Helen, Rachel and Charlotte, parents Dot and Paddy, brother Gary and sister Cherry and their respective partners and all his close friends for their help.

"When something dramatic happens to you, if you have great people around you, it makes things much easier," he said.

Mr Philips has since returned to his job as a sales consultant for BT and he has also started squash coaching again at The University of Reading.

He said if he got compensation, it would help him to go private to get a computerised leg and he would be able to have work done in his home to make his life easier.

Mr Philips could not drive for six months after the accident in Irchester, Northampton, on December 6, 2001, and will now have to learn a whole new way of life, says the writ.

He claims he cannot manage stairs easily, can no longer do DIY, home maintenance or gardening and cannot play squash, which he had played to a high standard.

The writ also says he is now disadvantaged on the open labour market.

It adds his career and promotion prospects have been adversely affected and he has lost earnings.

The writ accuses Mr Howorth, of 38, Bradshaw Way, Irchester, of negligently driving too fast, failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to see Mr Philips or the car, failing to look where he was driving, failing to keep a reasonable distance between cars and failing to avoid the accident.

Although the writ does not specify the level of damages sought it indicates that lawyers value the claim, if successful, at more than £150,000.